If you are new to Grand Bahama Island or a seasoned local and you are ready to purchase a home or land that makes you a serious house/land hunter and serious house/land hunting can leave you worn out and confused at the end of the day. It is hard to remember which house had the great back yard with Mango trees and the kitchen with the granite countertops and which one you ruled out because of inadequate storage space. Some of the houses you visited looked familiar--like maybe you had seen them before. Which canal lot had the direct views down the mouth of the canal? How can you conserve energy and keep it all straight with out “making the spouse vexed”.

The first step is to find a Realtor who knows the area well and will only show you homes and property that meet your criteria. Next you should invest in a small note pad in order to keep a record of the homes you visit. Note the address, style and exterior color, as well as something distinctive about the house that will trigger your memory. Make a special note if a house has real possibilities. Jot down important pluses and minuses of each property and share this information with your Realtor. This will help you to narrow down the houses so that you can focus on your favorites.

If you have been house hunting on your own, you may have been relying on the classified ads, friends, or driving from East End to West End trying to figure out where you want to reside and what's for sale. A good Realtor can save you time and effort by making your search less stressful and more efficient.

As realtors we learn about homes as they go on the market, and the best values may sell before they are ever advertised! In Freeport some homes never even make it to the paper or never have For Sale Signs. Good Realtors know what's on the market and who to call to show a home. An agent who has seen the homes available in the area can save you plenty of time and effort.

Sellers often have a strong attachment to a home that holds many memories for them. It is important for them to know that the new buyers will love it, too. While any sale can potentially become complicated and difficult, problems seem to work themselves out more easily if you have started out on a positive note. This is one important reason why I work hard to maintain a good rapport between the parties involved in every transaction, so Good Luck to all you Grand Bahama House hunter.

James Sarles – Let’s Talk Real Estate: President of Coldwell Banker James Sarles Realty; an Estate Agent specializing in high-end luxury ocean-front and canal properties. James has a BS in Business and Psychology, and a background in marketing and advertising. He was born in Buffalo, New York and first came to The Bahamas when Tourism asked for his marketing assistance. He met his wife on that trip and still resides in Freeport today with their teen age son.  James is very involved in community; an active Sunrise Rotary member, as well as helps with many other charity groups on Grand Bahama. He is the founder of a Big Brother program for orphans or trouble teens through his Rotary Club, of which he is still active today. He can be reached at james@sarlesrealty.com